Chapter 1- The Woods are Lovely, Dark and Deep

Sia and Rona were almost Adults. No… Adulthood was not something defined by age. There are sad five year olds who are cursed by the Blindness of the Mind. Then there are those eighteen year olds who clung to Harry Potter books and wished to be able to run through the wall to platform nine and three quarters. Sia and Rona were sixteen and fourteen respectively and were on the threshold of becoming Adults when they were invited to their grandparent's estate for Christmas. Their Victorian mansion and library was where most of Sia's and Rona's adventures had started. They were overjoyed when their parents agreed and had taken the next flight there.

After a few heartwarming hugs, a lavish breakfast and lots of talk about the future plans and yada yada (what's with grandparents and the talk about marriage? They never miss the chance. Do they forget the legal age?) Sia and Rona escaped to the library. 

The smell of books, wood and the fireplace and the cup of hot chocolate in their hands were all nostalgic.

"Do you remember?" Sia pulled out a piece of parchment that they had tucked away behind the Atlas on the wall.

"It's still there?" Rona said chuckling and opening the parchment that Sia had handed over to her. "Our map!"

"The forest," Sia said peering into the parchment fondly.

"Forbidden Forest!" Rona corrected her.

"Ah! Yes. Forbidden Forest." Sia agreed.

And then for no reason at all they laughed. They laughed until they had tears in their eyes, as memories of their childhood flashed before them. And then they stopped. 

But why?

Why did they laugh?

Had it all stopped being real to them?

Were they becoming Adults?

The thought upset them and so they tucked the parchment away.

"The woods are lovely dark and deep," Rona said.

"Is that?..."  "But I have promises to keep," Sia added.

"And miles to go before I sleep." Rona said walking to the bay window at the other end of the library and looking out into the forest. Their Forbidden forest.

"And miles to go before I sleep." Sia completed taking her place beside Rona.

"I guess we have crossed over. We have left the woods behind. We are Adults now."

Sia felt an overwhelming grief pour into her heart.

"Robert Frost," came the voice of a boy crossing over to biological adulthood.

"Emend?" Sia turned to see the neighbor's boy who worked part time for them as a Librarian.

He handed her a book of poems with beautiful illustrations. He pointed at the page. "Robert Frost, Stopping by the woods on a snowy evening." he said.

Sia rolled her eyes, she had read the poem in her class, written essays on it, byhearted it even, she did not need to see the book. And yet she indulged him and read.

Stopping by the woods on a snowy evening. 

"Whose woods these are I think I know.

His house is in the village, though;

He will not see me stopping here

To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer

To stop without a farmhouse near

Between the woods and frozen lake

The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake

To ask if there is some mistake.

The only other sound's the sweep

Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep.

And then it struck her.

"Rona!" she exclaimed. "It's a map!"